Burial-vault.



J. BERMEL.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

ATTORNEYS J. BERMEL.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

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JOSEPH BERMEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BURIAL-VA'ULT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 31, 1910.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

Serial No. 564,180.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BERMEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Middle Village, borough of Queens, in the county -of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Burial-Vault, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a new and improved subterranean grave vault, which is adapted to receive one or more bodies and protect them from vermin and seepage.

An object of this invention is to provide a vault which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong, durable and readily accessible.

A further object of this invention is to provide a grave vaultwith an upstanding flange or ridge arranged around the opening, whereby any surface waters are prevented from flowing into the interior of the vault.

These and further objects, together with the construction and combination of parts, will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view, partly broken away to show the underlying structure; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view, with the cover removed.

Referring more particularly to the separate parts of the vault, 1 indicates a body portion, which consists of a bottom 2, sides 3 and ends 4. A top is formed by extending the sides 3 inwardly to form walls 5, which are spaced apart from each other to form an opening G, through which the Gaskets containing the bodies may be inserted.

Thilo the body portion l may be made of any suitable material, it preferably consists of concrete reinforced by a metal framework. his metal framework may be of any suitable character, such as horizontal bars 7 formed with angles 8 at the corners to strengthen the structure, and vertical bars 9 extending in juxtaposition to the bars 7.

It will be noted that the vertical bars 9 incline upwardly and inwardly to form sections 10, which support the walls 5. These sections 10 are provided with extensions 11 arranged at angles to the sections 10 and inclining inwardly and abruptly upward to form reinforcements for a ridge or flange l2, which extends all around the opening 6 and has its inner surface flush with the opening 6 so as to form a dam or barrier, which will prevent the surface waters from seeping into the interior of the vault.

It will be noted that each of the top walls 5 is provided with a suitable reinforcing member 13, in the nature of an I-beam, which extends to each end and is supported by the end walls 4, so that the top of the vault is positively and strongly held in place and absolutely prevented from caving in.

The opening 6 may be closed by a cover 14,

which is provided with a downwardly-extending flange 15 extending around the periphery thereof so as to readily engage with the flange l2 and form a comparatively tight joint. This cover 4 may be of any suitable material, such as a granite slab, or may be made of concrete, reinforced if desired. i

For the purpose of accommodating a plurality of caskets, indicated at 16, in spaced relation, there are provided shelves 17, 18, 19 and 20, supported in spaced relation in pairs on the sides and ends of the body portion. The method of supporting these shelves is to be noted, and consists of a plurality of ridges or steps 2l and 22 extending on both the sides and ends of the body portion. The superposed ridges are formed so that the low'ermost ridges 21 are inset from the uppermost ridges 22 so as to form a series of steps which permit the successive supporting of a plurality of shelves without the necessity of using auxiliary supporting members, which might readily loosen from the body portion during the course of time. Tt will thus be seen that the sides and end walls are thickest nearest the bottom, and gradually decrease in thickness toward the top. This feature not only gives the necessary support for the shelves, but also strengthens the vault at the bottom, where the most strength is needed, and forms a firm foundation for the upper part thereof, without any waste of material. i

The utility of the device will be readily understood when taken in connection with the above description. When the first bodies are inserted, there is no necessity of having any shelves, and the caskets containing the bodies are set directly on the bottom. Vhen crete top walls molded around said sections the bottom is filled up, the shelves 17 and 20 are inserted, and the caskets placed thereon. IVhen these shelves are filled, the superposed shelves 18 and 19 are then put in position, giving room for more casket-s. The number of tiers can be increased as desired. IVhen the bodies are in position, the cover 14 can be put in place, and if desired, can be sealed. However, it is not absolutely necessary to seal the cover in place, as the intimate locking structure of the bottleneck top with the cover prevents the intrusion of vermin, surface water, or the like.

While I have shown one embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limted to the specific details thereof, but desire to be protected in various changes, modifications and alterations which I may make within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent z- 1. A burial vault, comprising a bottom, side Walls, end walls, said side and end walls being thickest at the bottom and decreasing in thickness from the bottom toward the top, so as to form a series of receding` internal steps, shelves supported on said steps, said side and end walls comprising concrete reinforced by transverse bars and vertical bars, said vertical bars having sections inclining inwardly and upwardly therefrom, said sections having extensions inclining abruptly upward and inwardly therefrom, I-beams supported by said end walls, conand said I-beams and supported thereby in spaced relation, so as to form an inlet opening, an upwardly-extending peripheral flange molded around said extensions and forming a border for said opening, and a cover for said opening, said cover having flanges the same depth of said first-mentioned lianges and extending outside thereof, whereby an intimate seal is formed for said opening.

2. A burial vault, comprising a bottom, side walls, end walls, said side and end walls being thickest at the bottom and decreasing in thickness from the bottom toward the Vtop so as to form a series of receding internal steps, shelves supported on said steps, said side and end walls comprising concrete reinforced by transverse and vertical bars, said vertical bars having sections inclining inwardly and upwardly therefrom, said sections having extensions inclining abruptly upward and inwardly therefrom, a top wall molded around said sections, I-beams supported in spaced relation in said top wall so as to form an inlet opening therebetween, and an upwardly-extending peripheral flange molded around said extensions and forming a border for said opening.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH BER-MEL.

Witnesses:

HENRY H. AL'rHorr, MA'rlvAN HoHFELnR. 

